Test of the Geertop Plume II bivvy tent

 Disclaimer: This is _not_ advertisment or product placement. Any product shown here I have bought on my own, and in this test you only get to read my opinion about it. 

The Geertop Plume II bivvy tent is a hybrid between a classic hooped bivvy and a minimal 1-person tent. In difference to a hooped bivvy (like the Outdoor Research Helium Bivvy), it does contain an additional loop at the bottom of the bivvy, so that the outer walls will be in distance from the sleeper. What makes this concept really interesting is the fact that the tent has two weather protected vent areas, one at the bottom and one at the head room. This means it can be fully closed, while keeping airflow in good state. Furthermore, in summer time, and when you know it won't rain, a large part of the Plume II walls can be replaced with a moscito net, but we will take a look in more detail further on, when checking the pro and contras of this tent. To find out, I gave this tent a week of testing in the winter.

++ cheap option

The Plume II bivvy tent is sold at only around 90€ on Amazon and other trading platforms. Compared to other bivvy solutions or tents with this level of functionality, that's remarkably cheap. Does this mean the tent fails on construction, design, or materials? Let's find out why I gave two plus here, when we check the rest.

- weight

At 1.2kg for the whole pack, the Plume II is not one of the lightest candidates to carry, given the size of the tent. Many will consider to carry a tarp in addition to the Plume II, but in that case the weight will only add up. There are quite some other solutions, even offering sitting height inside the tent, at the same or less weight. Obviously those solution potentially are more expensive than the Plume, which has to be considered. Given one uses the Plume II as a standalone shelter, I would rate it's weight "ok". 

++ weather protection

The Plume II's wall material is 210T Ripstop Polyester, rated at PU5000mm water proofing for the walls, and PU8000mm for the ground material. While these values are from the vendors data sheet, and it sounds really good for a tent at this price, only a real weather test will say if the tent "just works". On Amazon and other review platforms, I have read that the tent is not waterproof, will not stand heavy rain and so on. However, I clearly cannot share this experience. During the week I've tested this tent in really bad weather conditions, from heavy rain, light rain all day long, and even snow, over the whole time, everything inside the Plume II kept staying bone dry. I was really surprised about the quality of the Ripstop material. I would suggest to use an additional ground sheet in order to protect the material.

- condensation buildup

Many reviewers have been saying that the condensation buildup in the Plume II is close to not acceptable. Having tested much more expensive solutions, I will say that every single wall construction will buildup condensation, it just depends on the material on how much of a problem this will become. And yes, the Plume II's wall material is not the best with regards to breathability. I have slept two nights in the tent during the week of testing, and had a good portion of condensation on the walls. When considering if this will actually be a real life problem, it has to be seen that the walls in the Plume II are not in contact with the sleeper. In difference to a classic bivvy, the tent walls are always away from the sleeper, and that's why condensation was not a real problem for me while testing. Furthermore, due to the forced ventilation openings on the front and on the back of the tent, condensation was never at a level where it becomes unacceptable. 

++ space offering

Lots of space in the head room

Given the Plume II's size data at 2,1 m 17,8 cm x 0,6 m, I was really impressed. For me this means this solution is useable without any additional tarp at all, because my full trekking gear, including a 60L backpack does fit into the Plume, including shoes, and I still have a comfortable space to sleep in. Of course, adding a tarp to the setup will allow for much more comfort, but the tent alone does it's job. On the front and on the back it features small rain protected areas which could also hold shoes and other gear that should not become wet due to rain. Also, really impressing was the head space in this tent. At 60cm height, this is really a comfortable place and the perfect mixture between stealthiness, low impact and functionality. The Plume II also offers two big mesh bags inside of the head space in order to store important items. And then many users will applaud the additional space created due to the third loop on the back of the bivvy. It keeps it's walls away from the user and adds up alot to the "tent-feeling".

The third loop on the back of the tent make up the "tent-feeling" inside

Overall, I was very happy with the inner layout of the tent and it's design.

++ easy entry

To enter the Plume II, the tent can be opened almost completely on the side, allowing for quick access. Coming from a front-loading bivvy, for me this was a huge plus or the Plume II. Furthermore, this access door can be removed completely, and replaced by a second layour of moscito netting. Welcome nights staring at the stars, and all condensation problems are gone. This design in my opinion raises the overall comfort using the tent very well.

Overall:

I have to say I was really impressed by the Geertop Plume II bivvy tent. I will certainly use it during the 2021 season for further long term testing, but so far, the experience was great. Given this tent is a low price option, similar designs can be found at a price range of 500€ and above, of course then with better material and build quality. But I really cannot complain what the Plume II offers for it's cost.

Thermarest Z-Lite Sol Review

 Disclaimer: This is _not_ advertisment or product placement. Any product shown here I have bought on my own, and in this test you only get to read my opinion about it. 

For many years I've tried many different concepts for sleeping mats. It began in the 80s when I was at the scouts with the by then common rolling mats made out of foam.  They are allright overall, but they have next to no alternative uses (I'll get to that later!) while having a bad pack size. And finally, most would call something different than these as comfortable!

With the Z-Lite at the campsite Rangau in Dechsendorf

One Day at the beginning of the 90s I would recognize the new inflatable sleeping mats, und of course that was absolute innovation. It was the first time, I could have the comfortable luxury of an air matress while the pack size compared to the foam mats was a winner. You can bet I quickly was a Thermarest customer by that time ;)

During a trip to the North Cape in Norway (by tent and car), I could test and use the sleeping mat to a good extend. But it came as it has had to happen: A flying spark of a fire was everything needed to get a hole into the airmat. Not really a problem, I could fix it by taping it quickly. But what was left was this bad feeling - in future, I would by really careful and checkout where I will use the mat, care for not being in the range of smokers or near a campfire.

With the years, it got more and more holes into it, and at some point the vent was not secure anymore. In the end I could not really find out where it loses air.

When these minimal-approach air matress became the de-facto standard, and they really flooded the market in a way that nowadays you can by them for around 15 Euros at a discounter, I have tested a few more of them. But in the end it was always the same: Either the products became air-leaking at some point, weighted too much, or they had a slippery sleep area. Always, there was left that feeling of having paid too much money for the product.

I was back to thoughts about foam mats again after all of that, after all with these I would not have all of the trouble mentioned above. I was happy to see that Thermarest offers "classic" foam mats also, and encountered the Z-Lite that way. But for me to accept the biggest disadvantage of such a sleeping mat, the pack size, it has to offer a few more critical features.

More comfort than with all other foam style mats, because of the "waves" in the matress profile. Yes, it cannot compete with an air matress concering the comfort, but compared to the usual foam mat, sleep on the Z-Lite is really good, and due to the profile you don't slip of the mat during the night.

The profile of the Z-Lite

 

Because the Z-Lite is folding, it offers different use cases:

Folded to a pack it makes a nice seat. Folded once in the middle, you still have a comfortable seat for two persons. One can also lean it against a tree in order to gain a more comfortable seat. The fact that it is folding enlarges the use cases of this matress a lot.

Heat reflector:

The "Sol"-version of the Z-Lite offers a metallic side, which is reflecting heat and light. I tried it: everyone knows the situation when sitting at a campfire and your back gets cold. If you have the Z-Lite behind you, this does not happen, it keeps you back dry and warmer due to it's reflection from the fire.

Unbreakable: this for me is the biggest advantage of the Z-Lite. Never ever I have to think about being close to a campfire, or have to take a exact look at which ground I place the mat. Of cource, also the Z-Lite takes damage from time to time, but it doesn't lead to a total failure.

3 Seasons: with a heat transfer coefficient of 2,6, the sleeping mat is easy going from Spring to Autumn. 

Lightweight. This mat weights 410g overall. Not much to say here! It is certainly not the lightest mat on the market, but weight doesn't have to hide, especially when comparing it to air sleeping mats.

The Z-Lite fixated to my backpack by using
4 carbon carbines

I had doubt because of the pack size. Would I really carry a pack size of 51x13cm around and easily fixate it to my Deuter backpack? I bought 4 carbines made of Carbon to connect it on my backpack. Deuter fortunately thought ahead when designing the rain cover for the backpack, as it easily can contain the matress too. The Z-Lite measures 51cm x 183cm when folded out to full length.

Summary: After many nights on the Z-Lite, week long camp in the wilderness with much campfires, and many uses as a day-to-day article when I'm out with the family, I can say that for me the search for the ideal sleeping mat is over ;) I love it.

The Z-Lite Sol fullfills all my expectations, and apart from my tours it is loved by the family when we're out to picknick or whatever. Because it's so lightweight, it can easily be carried everywhere.